Page turner



May 14, 1957 E. F. HAGMAN PAGE TURNER Filed May 18, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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y 1957 E. F. HAGMAN 2,791,847

PAGE TURNER Filed May 18, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ERNEST I: HAG/WAN,

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BY I

E. F. HAG MAN PAGE TURNER May 14, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 18, 1953 52 I INVENTOR. I Eezvssr E HAG/WAN,

United States Patent 6 PAGE TURNER Ernest F. Hagman, Glendale, Calif.

Application May 18, 1953, Serial No. 355,550

25 Claims. (Cl. 40-104) This invention relates to a means for automatically and mechanically turning pages of an opened book, magazine or other bound printed material, and more particularly to an apparatus adapted to be operated by an incapaciated individual unable to use his hands to turn book pages but at least capable of moving some portion of his body a slight distance.

Individuals who have become polio patients or who have had arms and hands immobilized by paralysis, by casts, or by other means, have heretofore been deprived of the pleasure of reading various books, magazines and articles while in the hospital or while convalescing under such conditions because they have been unable to turn pages of a book. In some cases nurses or assistants have read to such individuals or have stood alongside to hold and turn pages of a book for the patients convenience. Obviously such a task is boresome and tiresome to the assistant holding or reading the book or turning the pages of the book.

In order to make available a means whereby such immobilized patients can enjoy reading while convalescing, prior devices have been proposed for supporting and tuming pages of a book. Such prior devices have been rela-' tively complex in operation because while the act of turning a page by a human actuated finger is a relatively simple one, mechanical means for performing such a simple act have been relatively combersome and complicated. Such prior mechanical means have been extremely expensive so that they were normally beyond the financial reach of such patients in a hospital or of those convalescing at home.

The present invention contemplates a page-turning apparatus which overcomes the disadvantages and complexities of the prior devices for turning pages and which affords an effective, efiicient, and virtually fool-proof page-turning mechanical means actuated by electrical means.

The primary object of this invention therefore is to disclose and provide an apparatus for selectively turning pages of an opened book by mechanical means electrically actuated.

An object of this invention is to disclose and provide a page-turning means which is easily operable by an incapacitated patient who has arms and hands immobilized and who is capable of at least changing slightly the position of one part of his body, such as his head, leg, toe, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pageturning means which is simply constructed, is inexpensive to manufacture, is positive in operation, and may be readily made of explosion-proof construction so that it may be used by polio patients while under oxygen treatment.

Another object of this invention is to disclose and pro vide a page-turning apparatus wherein pages of an opened book may be turned in either direction according to the desire of the reader.

A further object of this invention is to design and provide a page-turning apparatus which occupies relatively 2 little space and thereby is readily adaptable to the generally crowded and limited quarters normally found in hospitals.

A still further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a page-turning apparatus which may be readily employed with reflecting mirror means so that prone patients such as polio patients may read a book and turn the pages thereof by themselves.

This invention contemplates a page-turning apparatus wherein means are'provided for holding down the book pages while the pages are being read so that drafts or currents of air cannot accidentally turn the pages of the opened book.

Still another object of this invention is to design and provide a page-turning apparatus wherein a page-turning arm is normally positioned at a remote distance from the Generally speaking, a page-turning apparatus of this invention contemplates a means for supporting a book in opened position in an area adjacent to the patient so that the patient may read the open pages of the book. The apparatus includes means for holding the book against movement on the book supporting means and means for turning the pages of the open book, the latter means including a rotatable turret spaced above an open book and driven by suitable electrical means controlled by the patient. Adjacent the turret is provided a cam means which provides a cam edge engaged by a page turner arm which is carried and rotated by the turret.

The page turner arm is provided with a page contacting element at its remote end, the element being adapted to be moved into contact with a page to be turned upon rotation of the turret, the page turner arm being guided in said movement by the cam edge. Means are also provided for automatically stopping the page turner arm in a remote position with respect to the book so that the arm will not interfere with reading of the opened book. Page hold-down means are simultaneously operable upon movement of the page turner arm so that the pages may be turned by the arm. After the page is turned the holddown means is automatically repositioned on the open face of the book so that the pages are again held against Y accidental turning.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description of the drawings in which an exemplary embodiment of this invention is shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic, elevational view showing an application of a page-turning apparatus embodying this invention and including mirror reflecting means whereby a patient lying in prone position may 0 read a book.

Fig. 2 is a top view of the page-turning apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top diagrammatic view of the page-turning l apparatus shown in Fig. 2 just before contacting a page of a book for turning said page.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the page being turned.

Fig.5. is .a viewxsimilantoFigs. 3 and'4 showing completion of the page-turning operation.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the page-turning apparatus in a position corresponding to Fig. 3

Fig. 7 isa diagrammatic :elevational view. showing the page-turning apparatus in a position corresponding to Fig. 4.

Fig. 8ais a viewsirnilar to.Figs. 6and 7 showingthe position of the page-turning apparatus corresponding to Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view of the page-turning apparatus shown in Fig. 2, a portion of said figure illustratingdiagrammatically an electrical circuit for said. apparatus.

Fig. 10.is a1fragmentary perspective view-of a slot in a disk whereby reversal of the apparatus isreadily accomplished.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of concentrically arranged cam means employed withan apparatus of said invention.

Referring first to Figs. land 2 of the drawings, an exemplary apparatus for turning pages of an opened book-embodying this invention is generally indicated at 15. A book 16 may be supported from a book support means 17 which may comprise a fiat table top 18 supported by legs or other structure of suitable form (not shown). The table top is preferably provided with'a top fiat surface 19 of anantifriction material such as cork or suitable compositions. The table top 18 may be positioned in a horizontal plane as shown or may be suitably inclined in order to facilitate viewing of the book by an immobilized patient.

Means for holding the book 16 against movement when positioned on the surface 19 of the table top 18 may comprise a plurality of spaced pairs of threaded socket members '21mounted in the'table 18 in such a manner that the top face of each socket member is virtually flush with the flat surface 19. The pairs of socket members 21 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to a center line of the table 18 so as to form on each side thereofparallel lines of socket members 21 inclined to said center line and defining an area in which a book is to be positioned. Each pair of opposed sockets 21 is adapted to secure a book hold-down rod 22 having at each end a port through which a headed bolt 23 may extend for threaded engagement with the socket member 21. The heads of bolts 23 may be of wing type. The spacing of the pairs of sockets along the inclined parallel lines provides a convenient means for holding down books of different sizes.

-As best seen in Fig. 6, each hold-down rod 22 is inserted between the cover of book 16 and the pages 24 thereof so that when the bolts 23 are tightened, the rods 22 will firmly hold the front and back covers of book 16 tightly against the flat surface 19 of the table 18. At the same time thte pages 24 of the book are free to be turned.

While two hold-down rods 22 are illustrated, on certain types of books which are bound as in the manner shown in Fig. 6, a single hold-down rod 22 may be employed by inserting the rod between the'binding 25 of the book and the panel 26 of cover material which connects the front and back cover of the book. The holddown rodmay be secured to a pair of socket members 27 located on the said center line of the table 18.

Means for turning a page 24 of the book 16 is generally indicated at 30 and may be located on said center line above the area of surface 19 upon which the book may be positioned. The page-turning means 30 may comprise a circular base plate 31 (Fig. 9) secured to the table 18 as by screw bolts 32 which-extend through an annular base 'fiange 33. The base 31 .is axially ported at 34 to receive therethrough adriven shaft 35, the axis of said shaft 35 being substantially at right angles to the plane of thesurface 19. A downwardly facing bearing .recess.36-is.fo1:med.in base 31 toaccommodateasby a press fit a bearing means 37 for antifrictionally mounting the shaft 35 in base 31. Shaft 35 may be suitably shouldered as at 35a for transmitting any upwardly directed thrust forces due to the page turning means to the base through the bearing means 36. An enlarged upwardly facing circular recess 38 of greater diameter than the bearing recess 36 is defined by an annular rib 39, said recess 38 receiving the bottom portion of a cylindrical turret 40. The turret 40 is provided with an axial bore 41 which receives the top end portion of shaft 35. The turret .40 may .beisecured to shaft 35 in any wellknown manner as by a set .screw (not shown).

The turret 40 is arranged to pivotally carry a page turner arm 42 which extends radially outwardly therefrom and which carries at its remote end a weighted head 43 provided with a suitable depending page contacting element 44. The page contacting element 44 may be of any suitable material such as rubber or rubber composition so asto'frictionally engage the page of the'book. The length of the page contacting arm 42 is such that when a bookis positioned in the area defined by the socket members 21, the sweep of the arm 42 will pass over the central transverse portion or zone of the book.

The page-turning arm 42 is pivotally connected to the turret 40 by means .of a vertically elongated recess 45 which receives theinner end of said arm 42. A horizontal pin 46 extends transversely through said inner end of arm 42-and is supported in the side walls of recess 45 so that the arm 42 may be pivotally moved in a vertical direction.

On each. side of the page-turning arm 42 may be provided a tfollower arm 48, each follower arm 48 being angularlyispaced from the page-turning arm 42. Each follower arm 48 is similarly pivotally mounted in turret 40 by a vertically elongated recess 49 formed in the turret and which accommodates the inner end of the follower arm 48. A horizontal transverse pin (not shown) is supported by the walls of each recess 49 so as to permit movement of the follower arm 48 in a vertical direction.

Each follower arm 48 carries at its remote end an antifrictionally mounted roller 50 and each arm 48 may be of slightly less length than the page-turning arm 42.

Cam means for guiding the page-turning arm and the follower arms downwardly so that the remote ends thereof may contact a page of the book at the proper time may comprise two nested, concentric, circularcam members52 and 53. The nested cam members are coaxially carried by the base 31 by means of an upstanding, circumferential, annular flange 54 which defines an enlarged, upwardlyfacing, open recess 55 into which the nested cam members are received. The outer cam member 52 and the inner cam member 53 form top circular cam edges 56 and 57 respectively. The cam edges 56 and 57 each define a partial circle wherein the cam edges lie in the same plane. The remainder of the circle is defined by cam edge portions 56a and 57a which form a depression 58 and which lie in a plane below the plane of the'edges 56 and 57. The edge portions 56a and 57:: are below the plane of the pivotal pins which connect the arms to the turret 40. The cam edge portions 56a and 57a smoothly merge with the cam edges 56 and 57 respectively along relatively sharply inclined cam edge portions.

The depression 58 formed by the nested cam members 52 and 53 isfaced opposite to the book 16. The width of the depression 58 may be readily adjusted for books of different width and size by relatively rotating the cam members 52 and 53 so that the cam edge portions defining the depression58 may be spaced apart a selected distance. The cam members 52 and 53 are held in selected position by means of a pair of securing bolts 59 which are received between rib :39and the edges of axial ports 60 and 61formed 'in -wal1s162 and 63.015 thecammembers armpit respectively. The bolts 59 extend into respective threaded bores 64 formed in the base 31 so that when the bolts are tightened the nested cam members are tightly held in desired relationship. The top face of rib 39 may lie in a plane slightly below the plane of the top surface of wall 63 so that the head of each bolt 59 may tightly frictionally clamp the cam members in selected relationship.

The page turner arm 42 and the follower arms 48 may each be provided with cam rollers 65 of sleeve type for rolling engagement with the cam edges of the cam members 52 and 53.

Means for holding the pages 24 of an opened book 16 against accidental turning thereof while a patient is reading the book may be provided by a partially circular hold-down wire element 67 carried at each end by a collar 68 on each follower arm 48. Each collar 68 is normally positioned closely adjacent to the roller 50 in such a manner that the partially circular wire member 67 is virtually concentric with the axis of rotation of the turret. Each collar 68 is rotatable on its associated arm 48 so that it may be adjusted in position so as to cause the wire element 67 to bear downwardly with a selected pressure against the opened page of the book. Each collar 68 is held in selected position by a suitable set screw. In some instances it may be desirable to move the collars 68 longitudinally of the axes of arms 48 so as to vary the position of the hold-down wire 67 with respect to the book. The hold-down wire element 67 is preferably made of any thin relatively stiff wire so that there will be sufagainst the pages of the book and so that the wire will not interfere with the reading of the lines of print on the book pages. Preferably the wire element. is made of stainless steel or other non-corrosive material so that the hold down wire will slide freely over the page and not fricshown). Gasketing may be provided between top 18 and plate 710. The motor 70 drives the driven shaft 35 through a suitable gear train diagrammatically indicated at 72, said gear train also being supported and carried by the brackets 71. The gear train 72 may reduce the revolutions per minute of the motor output to approximately six revolutions per minute delivered to the driven shaft 35.

Means for controllably reversing the direction of rotation of shaft 35 and the arms 42 and 48 so as to turn a .30 ficient resiliency in the wire element to exert pressurepage either forwardly or backwardly may comprise a Each microswitch 73 may be suitably placed adjacent a v movable body part of the patient so that upon slight displacement of said body part the switch will be momentarily closed. Each switch 73 may be mounted in a suitable casing from which a switch contact arm may extend.

The reversing means also includes a single pole double throw switch 76 which includes a center elongated switch arm 77 of thin, resilient metal supported at one end between insulation layers 78. The switch arm 77 is provided with a contact button 79 intermediate its ends adapted to electrically contact a contact element 88 in one position and a contact element 81 in a second position. The contact elements 80 and 81 are supported above and below the arm 77 by the layers 78.

The elongated switch arm 77 carries at its remote end a guide element 82, said guide element 82 being normally positioned in the neutral plane of a circular, relatively thick section disk 83. The disk 83 is fixed to the shaft 35 in any suitable manner. In the circumferential margin of disk 83 may be provided a radially, inwardly;

extending open endedv slot 84 defined by parallel inclined edge faces 85. In neutral open position of the switch arm 77 the guide element 82 lies between the faces 85 of the slot 84. When rotation of the disk commences by energization of the motor through closure of one of the switches 73, the guide element 82 is guided either upwardly or downwardly upon an inclined face 85 to the top or bottom circumferential surface of the disk 83 depending upon the switch 73 closed. When the guide element 82 is in contact with the top surface of the disk, the contact button 79 is urged upwardly into circuit making position with contact element 80. When the guide element 82 engages the bottom surface of the disk 83 the contact button 79 is in circuit making position with the contact element 81. When one revolution of the disk is completed, the circuit is automatically broken by reason of the guide element 82 dropping into the slot 84 and into neutral open position where the button 79 is out of contact with elements 80 and 81.

In Fig. 9 the gear box, motor, reversing switch and microswitches are diagrammatically illustrated for purposes of showing the arrangement of the wiring diagram. It i understood, however, that all of such equipment may be enclosed within a housing 87 depending from the table top 18.

For clarity the wiring diagram is illustrated as including a terminal panel 88. The motor 70 is connected to a source of electricity through the panel by means of a pair of wires 89. The motor 70 is also connected to terminals 90, 91 and 92 by respective leads 93, 94 and 95. Terminal and terminal 91 are connected by leads 96 and 97 to a common lead 98 which is connected to the switch arm 77. Terminal 92 is connected to the contact element 80 by a suitable lead 100. Contact element 81 is connected to a terminal 101 by a lead 102.

One wire of each lead 74 of the microswitches 73 may be connected to a common terminal 91 of the panel 88. The other wire of each lead 74 may be connected respectively to terminal 101 and to terminal 92. It will thus be apparent that upon closing one of the microswitches 73 the motor will become energized for driving the shaft 35 in one direction of rotation and that as soon as the guide element 82 is deflected to contact a surface of disk 83, the contact button 79 electrically contacts the respective contact element 80 or 81 and a circuit is completed which will continue to energize the motor so that the shaft 35 will be rotated for one revolution.

The panel 88 also includes terminals 104 and 105 which may be connected to a pair of leads 106 which connect a light 107 to the source of electricity. The light 107 is'illustrated in Fig. 1 and may be supported in suitable position above a book 16 so as to illuminate be described from a consideration of Figs. 3 to 8 inclusive. A selected microswitch 73 may be closed for rotating in a clockwise direction the page turner arm 42 and the follower arms 48. The leading arm 48 is guided by the cam members 52 and 53 into contact with the page of the book to be turned. The freely rotatable roller 50 does not disturb the page to be turned since it rolls freely across the surface thereof. The roller-50 does exert a slight pressure upon the page. Immediately after the leading arm 48 is rotated out of contact with the page to be turned, the page-turning arm 42 is guided downwardly into contact with said page. The page contacting element 44 engages the page at a point 109 spaced slightly inwardly of the side edge of the page and in a generally central transverse zone of the .page. The weighted head 43 causes suflicient frictional engagement of the element 44 with the surface of the page so as to cause the page to begin to fold upon itself as shown in Fig. 7. The contacting element 44 maintains page contact until it reaches the opposite side of the book when it is guided upwardly by the cam members out of contact with the page. At the same time the trailing follower arm 48 has been guided into contact with the uncovered page of the book and its roller 50 travels freely thereacross. When the trailing roller 50 passes the center of the book it contacts the underside of the page to be turned because said page has not had opportunity to spring back or return to its previous position. The trailing arm 48 and its roller 50 then proceeds to smooth the page which has been turned into its final position. As the trailing arm 48 is raised upwardly by the cam means, the hold-down wire element 67 is brought into contact with the opened pages of the book so as to retain them in open position. When the page turning arm reaches a position directly opposite to the book 16, as shown in Fig. 2, the guide element 82 onthe switch arm drops into the slot 84, the circuit energizing the motor is broken thereby and the one revolution of the pageturning arm 48 is completed.

By pressing the other microswitch 73 the page-turning apparatus rotates in an opposite direction and turns back a page in a manner substantially identical .with that described above. It will therefore be 'apparentthat an immobilized patient may readily turn pages of a book forwardly or backwardly by minute displacement of some part of his body which is sufiicient tomomentarilyclose a microswitch.

In Fig. 1, means are illustrated for supporting-a hinged mirror means 110 from the table top 18 so that this apparatus may be used in connection with a patient who is lying in prone position and under treatment in an oxygen tent. The mirror means 110 is conveniently supported by means of a pair of upstanding posts 111 secured to opposite edges of the table top 18 in any suitable manner as at 112. A relatively high pair of posts 113 may likewise be secured to side edges of the table top 18 as at 114 adjacent the edge of the table which is in proximity to the-head of the patient. The posts 111 and 113are connected by transverse members 115 and 116, said transverse members supporting the mirror means 110.

Preferably the mirror means 110 includes a'mirror'117 positioned over the book 16 at a suitableangle and a mirror 118 positioned over the eyes of a patient at a suitable angle so as to reflect the image ofthe book 16 from-the mirror 117 intothe line of sight of thepatient. Preferably each mirror ,117 and 118 is a front surface mirror so as to reflect an'accurate, undistorted-and unshadowcd image of the book. The mirror 118 may be adjustably angularly. related to the mirror 117 by 'means of a flexible member 119 which is secured at one end to the transverse member 115 and at its other end to the mirror 118. Adjustment of the length of member 119 varies the angular relation of the mirror 118 with respect to the mirror 117.

The exemplary embodiment of a page-turning apparatus described above provides a simple, effective meansfor turning pages of an opened book in either direction according to the desire and wish of an individual using said apparatus. The apparatus is readily-and simply constructed and yet is virtually fool-proof in its operation. It may be readily adjusted to accommodate books of different sizes and to turn pages of relatively large size magazines. The arrangement of the page turner arm and the page hold-down means should beparticularly noted because the follower armsdti which carry the-holddown wire element 67 define an includedangle Within which the page-turning armis capableofetfectivelyoperating to turn a page of a book withoutinterference with page hold-down means. The partially circular hold-down wire element is automatically rotated out of engagement with the opened book when a page is being turned and is automatically brought into contact with the book immediately after a page is turned so as to hold the opened pages of the book in selected position.

It is understood that the difference in height of the cam edges 56, 57, and the depressed cam edge portions 56a, 57a, may be varied in order to effectively position the hold-down wire element and page turning means for books of great or small thickness. For turning pages of thin pamphlet material it may be noted that positioning of the socket members slightly below the surface of a cork top will take advantage of the resiliency of the cork so that thin page or cover material will be etfcctively held and clamped in place by the hold-down means. Obviously, it may be desirable to include a facing of resilient, yieldable material on the hold-down rods to facilitate holding of the printed material.

'It is understood that other cam arrangements may be provided for guiding the page turner arm, and that the arm may be rotated about an axis having a different relation to the table top and book than that exemplarily described. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that these and other various changes and modifications may be made in the page-turning means described above and all such modifications and changes coming within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for turning pages of an opened book, the combination of: means having a surface for supporting a book in opened position; means connected to the support means for holding the book against movement thereon; means for turning pages of the opened book comprising a turret carried by said support means spaced from the book and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the surface of the support means; a pair of circular cam members concentric with said axis and'having cooperable top cam edges, a page-turning arm :pivotally mounted in said turret and provided with a cam follower engaging said cam edge, said page-turning arm having a page contacting element at its free end, said cam edges forminga depression opposite to said book whereby the page-turning arm is guided downwardly into contact with a page of a book during rotation of the arm; a follower arm pivotally mounted in the turret on each side .of the page-turning arm and cooperably contacting said cam edge; a rotatable page contacting roller carried at the free end of each follower arm, said follower arms being spaced apart a selected included angle;. a partially circular thin hold-down element carried by said follower arms in virtually concentric relation to said axis and adapted to normally hold down pages of an opened book, said partially circular element excluding the said included angle; andmeans for selectively, reversibly rotating said turret.

'2. In an apparatus for turning pages of an opened book, the combination of: means having a surface for supporting a book in opened position; means connected to the support means for holding the book against movement thereon; means for turning pages of the opened book comprising a turret carried by said support means spaced from the book and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the surface of the support. means; a pair-of circular cam members concentric with said axis and having cooperable top cam edges, a page-turning arm pivotally mounted in said turret and engaging said cam edge, said page-turning arm having a page contacting element at its free end, said cam edges forming a depression opposite to said book whereby the page-turning arm is guided downwardly into contact with a page of a book during rotation of the arm; a follower arm pivotally mounted in the turret on each side of the page-turning arm and cooperably contacting said cam edge; said follower. arms beingspaced-apart a selected included angle; a partially circular thin hold-down element carried by said follower.

arms in virtually concentric relation to said axis and adapted to normally hold down pages of an opened book, said partially circular element excluding the said included angle; and means for selectively, reversibly rotating said turret.

3. In an apparatus for turning pages of an opened book, the combination of: means having a surface for supporting a book in opened position; means connected to the support means for holding the book against movement thereon; means for turning pages of the opened book comprising a turret carried by said support means spaced from the book and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the surface of the support means; a pair of circular cam members concentric with said axis and having cooperable top cam edges, a page-turning arm pivotally mounted in said turret and engaging said cam edge, said page-turning ar-m having a page contacting element at its free end, said cam edges forming a depression opposite to said book whereby the page-turning arm is guided downwardly into contact with a page of a book during rotation of the arm; means carried by the turret and rotatable therewith for normally holding down pages of an opened book; and means for selectively rotating said turret.

4. In an apparatus for turning pages of an opened book, the combination of: a means having a surface for supporting a book in open position; means connected to the support means for holding the book against movement thereon; means for turning pages of the open book comprising; a turret carried by said support means spaced from the top of the book and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the surface of the support means; a pair of circular cam members concentric with said axis and having cooperable top cam edges; a page-turning arm pivotally mounted in said turret and engaging said cam edge; said page turning arm having a page contacting element at its free end; said cam edges forming a depression opposite to said book whereby the page-turning arm is guided downwardly into contact with the page of a book during rotation of the arm, and means for selectively, reversibly, rotating said turret.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the ends of said page-turning and follower arms pivotally mounted in the turret lie in a plane normally below the cam edge on said cam member.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for selectively rotating the turret includes a normally open microswitch adapted to be positioned adjacent a movable portion of a patients body.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for selectively rotating said turret includes a rotatably driven disk having a slot in the circumferential margin thereof defined by inclined opposed faces and a switchmaking arm selectively guided by said inclined faces for reversibly rotating said turret.

8. An apparatus for selectively turning pages of an open book the combination of: means for supporting a book in opened position; means for holding the book against movement on the support means; means for turning pages of the open book including a rotatable turret carried by the support means in spaced relation to the open book; a cam means adjacent the turret; a page turner arm carried by the turret and provided with a cam follower cooperably contacting the cam means; a page contacting element at the remote end of said page turner arm; and means for rotating said turret whereby said page turner arm is guided by said cam means and cam follower into contact with a page to be turned.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said cam means includes cam members adjustable relative to each other for adapting the apparatus to books of differout page size.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for holding the book against movement on the support means includes a rod and means carried by the support means for connecting the rod thereto in a plurality of different selected positions.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein a support bracket is carried by the support means and mirror means carried by the support means are adjustably, angularly related above said book for reflecting the image of the book to a patient in prone position.

12. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the means for selectively rotating said turret includes a rotatably driven shaft, a reversible motor, a circular disk of thick section carried by the shaft and having a slot in the outer circumferential margin thereof defined by parallel inclined edge faces; and a switch arm normally in circuit open position lying in the neutral plane of said disk and having an end portion within said slot and adapted to be guided by said inclined slot faces onto the upper surface of said disk for making an electrical contact for rotating the turret in one direction and adapted to be guided by said inclined faces to the lower surface of the disk for making an electrical contact for rotating the turret in an opposite direction.

13. Means for selectively turning forwardly and backwardly pages of an opened book comprising, in combination: a page turner arm carrying a page contacting element; reversible means connected to said arm for moving the page contacting element in a path in a selected direction across a transverse zone of the book; and means for guiding said arm to cause said page contacting element to engage a page to be turned while moving in said path in said selected direction.

14. Means for selectively turning pages of a book forwardly and backwardly, comprising in combination: a page turner arm provided with a page contacting element; means mounting said arm for selectively reversibly swinging said arm in a path across pages of an open book; guide means for said arm operable to guide said element into contact with a page to be turned; and follower means on opposite sides of said page turner arm in spaced relation thereto, movable with said page turner arm, and cooperably engaging said guide means for contacting a page to be turned before and after contact of said element with said page.

15. Means as stated in claim 14 including page holddown means interconnecting said follower means and engageable with pages of a book when said page contacting arm and said follower means are inoperative.

16. Means as stated in claim 15 wherein said holddown means include a partially circular element interconnecting said follower means.

17. Means as stated in claim 14 wherein said guide means are adjustable to cause said page turner arm and said follower means to contact a page to be turned at a selected point.

18. In an apparatus for turning pages of an opened book, the combination of: page turner means mounted for swinging movement across an opened book; guiding means for said page turner means to move said page turner means into and out of contact with a page to be turned in a preselected path; and means to reverse movement of said page turner means across said book to turn back a page, said guiding means being cooperable with said page turning means to move said page turning means into and out of contact with said page to be turned back along said preselected path in a reverse direction.

19. In an apparatus for turning pages of an opened book, the combination of: page turner means mounted for swinging movement across an opened book; guide means for said page turner means to guide said page turner means into and out of contact with a page to be turned in a preselected path; means to move said page turner means along said preselected path and reversible means to move said page turner means along said preselected path in a selected direction.

20. In an apparatus for turning pages of an opened book, the combination of: page turnermeans mounted for swinging movement across anopened book; guide means for said page turner means to guide said page turner means into and out of contact with a page to be turned in a preselected path; means to move said page turner means along said preselected path; follower means mounted to swing across an opened book in spaced relation to said turner means and cooperably engaged with said guide means to be guided in a path similar .to .the preselected path of said page turner means; and means to move said page turner means across said book.

21. An apparatus as stated in claim 20 including page hold-down means connected to said follower means for movement therewith and guidevinto contact with pages of said book by said guiding means.

22. An apparatus as stated in claim 20 including holddown means connected to said follower meansfor. contact with open pages of said book when said apparatus is inoperative.

23. In an apparatus as statedin' claim 20 wherein said guide means includes relatively movable cam members adjustable with respect to each other to selectively vary the path of movement of the page turner means.

24. An adjustable guide means for guiding the path of a page turner arm adapted to swing across an opened book about a pivotal axis, comprising: circular cam members arranged concentric to said axis, each provided with corresponding cam edge faces including a depression therein subtending a selected angle, said cam members being adjustably relatively movable for positioning said cam edge faces to vary the angle subtended by opposed sides of the depressions on said concentric cam members.

25. In combination with an apparatus for turning pages of a book forwardly and backwardly and including page turner means rotatable about an axis, comprising: means to selectively rotate said page turning means including a rotatably driven disc having a slot therethrough defined by inclined opposed faces; and a switch-making arm normally in contact with one surface of said disc and selectively guided by. said inclined faces into engagement with the opposite surface of said disc for reversibly rotating said page turning means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Carpenter Oct. 17, 1950 Romaniuk Oct. 27, 1953 OTHER REF ERENCBS 

